[SET]
name: Sun Setter
move 1: Weather Ball
move 2: Overheat / Fire Blast
move 3: Energy Ball
move 4: Hypnosis / Flame Charge
item: Heat Rock / Eject Pack
ability: Drought
nature: Timid
evs: 52 HP / 196 SpA / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Vulpix is LC's only automatic sun setter and supports dangerous Fire-types like Charmander and Ponyta. Weather Ball is Vulpix's most reliable STAB move under sun. Overheat deals massive damage to any neutral target and can safely bring in fragile threats when paired with Eject Pack. Fire Blast is a notable option on non-Eject Pack sets to provide a consistent attack outside of sun. Energy Ball hits Water-types and Onix. Hypnosis can cripple important switch-ins like Mareanie and Frillish, but its accuracy makes it unreliable. Flame Charge is another option to take advantage of sacrifices and forced switches, especially to avoid being trapped by Diglett. Heat Rock is the best item for dedicated sun teams, while Eject Pack works best in tandem with a single Fire-type teammate.
Both Charmander and Ponyta become fearsome threats under Vulpix's sun and are the main reasons to run this set. Diglett supports sun offense by reliably setting Stealth Rock and trapping Mareanie, Staryu, and opposing trappers. Natu prevents Stealth Rock from being set up, which increases the longevity of Vulpix and its teammates. Timburr is a reliable entry hazard remover in the tier with its bulk and Defog. This set works well when paired with an Eject Button user that can pivot into attacks and give safe entry to Ponyta and Charmander; Trubbish is an option because its Sticky Hold guarantees that the item will work, even against Knock Off.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Weather Ball
move 2: Overheat
move 3: Energy Ball
move 4: Fire Blast
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Drought
nature: Timid
evs: 52 HP / 196 SpA / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf Vulpix is a fast, powerful threat that outspeeds most of the tier and works as a strong cleaner. Overheat is an extremely strong STAB move that can take out bulkier, unsuspecting switch-ins. Energy Ball hits Water-types and Onix. Fire Blast is a strong alternative STAB move that hits hard when against Koffing's Neutralizing Gas and outside of sun.
Diglett is an invaluable partner for its ability to trap Mareanie, Ponyta, and sometimes Staryu. Trapinch can guarantee the removal of Ponyta. Natu can deter Stealth Rock from being set and preserve valuable health for Vulpix, letting it survive priority moves like Grookey's Grassy Glide. Grookey threatens Water-types and Onix, and it can lure in Fire-weak checks like Foongus to pivot Vulpix in with U-turn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Extrasensory hits Mareanie for super effective damage, but it is quite weak coming from Vulpix's low Special Attack. Encore can stop setup sweepers and take advantage of Water-types stalling out sun turns with Recover. Protect is useful for blocking Fake Out and First Impression, but it also wastes a valuable sun turn. Memento supports setup sweepers like Tyrunt. Will-O-Wisp can punish physical attackers like Onix and Mienfoo, but it is usually better to attack such foes.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ponyta**: Ponyta is not threatened by any of Vulpix's attacks and, with Flash Fire, it can even grow stronger by switching into a STAB move. It can also use Flame Charge to turn the tables on sun teams and hit them with its boosted Flare Blitz. Ponyta must beware Hypnosis, though.
**Water-types**: Staryu outspeeds non-Choice Scarf Vulpix, while Frillish and Mareanie have the bulk to switch in and use Recover to stall out sun turns. Staryu and Frillish must beware Energy Ball, though, and Staryu and Mareanie can be picked off by Eject Pack Overheat sets paired with Diglett.
**Trappers**: Most variants of Diglett can trap and remove non-Choice Scarf Vulpix, although they cannot comfortably switch in. Eviolite and Choice Scarf Diglett deserve special mention; Eviolite Diglett can take a hit and remove Vulpix reliably, while Choice Scarf Diglett outspeeds even Choice Scarf Vulpix and can threaten sun teams as a whole. Although less reliable, Trapinch has the bulk to take a hit from Vulpix and KO it back with Earthquake.
**Onix**: Onix takes Vulpix's STAB moves well, OHKOes it with Earthquake, and can force uncomfortable turns against non-Choice Scarf Vulpix by Speed tying it. Onix is OHKOed by Energy Ball, though, and can be beaten if it loses the Speed tie.
**Stealth Rock**: Stealth Rock limits Vulpix's longevity and makes it especially vulnerable to priority moves from foes like Mienfoo, Grookey, and Trapinch.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[KSG, 32350]]
- Quality checked by: [[gali, 107567], [DC, 449990]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
name: Sun Setter
move 1: Weather Ball
move 2: Overheat / Fire Blast
move 3: Energy Ball
move 4: Hypnosis / Flame Charge
item: Heat Rock / Eject Pack
ability: Drought
nature: Timid
evs: 52 HP / 196 SpA / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Vulpix is LC's only automatic sun setter and supports dangerous Fire-types like Charmander and Ponyta. Weather Ball is Vulpix's most reliable STAB move under sun. Overheat deals massive damage to any neutral target and can safely bring in fragile threats when paired with Eject Pack. Fire Blast is a notable option on non-Eject Pack sets to provide a consistent attack outside of sun. Energy Ball hits Water-types and Onix. Hypnosis can cripple important switch-ins like Mareanie and Frillish, but its accuracy makes it unreliable. Flame Charge is another option to take advantage of sacrifices and forced switches, especially to avoid being trapped by Diglett. Heat Rock is the best item for dedicated sun teams, while Eject Pack works best in tandem with a single Fire-type teammate.
Both Charmander and Ponyta become fearsome threats under Vulpix's sun and are the main reasons to run this set. Diglett supports sun offense by reliably setting Stealth Rock and trapping Mareanie, Staryu, and opposing trappers. Natu prevents Stealth Rock from being set up, which increases the longevity of Vulpix and its teammates. Timburr is a reliable entry hazard remover in the tier with its bulk and Defog. This set works well when paired with an Eject Button user that can pivot into attacks and give safe entry to Ponyta and Charmander; Trubbish is an option because its Sticky Hold guarantees that the item will work, even against Knock Off.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Weather Ball
move 2: Overheat
move 3: Energy Ball
move 4: Fire Blast
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Drought
nature: Timid
evs: 52 HP / 196 SpA / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf Vulpix is a fast, powerful threat that outspeeds most of the tier and works as a strong cleaner. Overheat is an extremely strong STAB move that can take out bulkier, unsuspecting switch-ins. Energy Ball hits Water-types and Onix. Fire Blast is a strong alternative STAB move that hits hard when against Koffing's Neutralizing Gas and outside of sun.
Diglett is an invaluable partner for its ability to trap Mareanie, Ponyta, and sometimes Staryu. Trapinch can guarantee the removal of Ponyta. Natu can deter Stealth Rock from being set and preserve valuable health for Vulpix, letting it survive priority moves like Grookey's Grassy Glide. Grookey threatens Water-types and Onix, and it can lure in Fire-weak checks like Foongus to pivot Vulpix in with U-turn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Extrasensory hits Mareanie for super effective damage, but it is quite weak coming from Vulpix's low Special Attack. Encore can stop setup sweepers and take advantage of Water-types stalling out sun turns with Recover. Protect is useful for blocking Fake Out and First Impression, but it also wastes a valuable sun turn. Memento supports setup sweepers like Tyrunt. Will-O-Wisp can punish physical attackers like Onix and Mienfoo, but it is usually better to attack such foes.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ponyta**: Ponyta is not threatened by any of Vulpix's attacks and, with Flash Fire, it can even grow stronger by switching into a STAB move. It can also use Flame Charge to turn the tables on sun teams and hit them with its boosted Flare Blitz. Ponyta must beware Hypnosis, though.
**Water-types**: Staryu outspeeds non-Choice Scarf Vulpix, while Frillish and Mareanie have the bulk to switch in and use Recover to stall out sun turns. Staryu and Frillish must beware Energy Ball, though, and Staryu and Mareanie can be picked off by Eject Pack Overheat sets paired with Diglett.
**Trappers**: Most variants of Diglett can trap and remove non-Choice Scarf Vulpix, although they cannot comfortably switch in. Eviolite and Choice Scarf Diglett deserve special mention; Eviolite Diglett can take a hit and remove Vulpix reliably, while Choice Scarf Diglett outspeeds even Choice Scarf Vulpix and can threaten sun teams as a whole. Although less reliable, Trapinch has the bulk to take a hit from Vulpix and KO it back with Earthquake.
**Onix**: Onix takes Vulpix's STAB moves well, OHKOes it with Earthquake, and can force uncomfortable turns against non-Choice Scarf Vulpix by Speed tying it. Onix is OHKOed by Energy Ball, though, and can be beaten if it loses the Speed tie.
**Stealth Rock**: Stealth Rock limits Vulpix's longevity and makes it especially vulnerable to priority moves from foes like Mienfoo, Grookey, and Trapinch.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[KSG, 32350]]
- Quality checked by: [[gali, 107567], [DC, 449990]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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